5 basic apps for managing your SME

Published:16 Mar 2015 00:09:29 PST

Go for it! Applications only require a minimum amount of time to explore and get familiar with, but promise many benefits towards productivity. Marketing, finances, client communications and agenda management are only some of the areas and tasks that can make use of these technological developments, also known as apps.

The list, intended as a guide, describes five of the most popular tools considered by specialists for frequent tasks such as: note taking, managing team projects, storing documents, tracking a brand on social media and scanning documents with mobile devices.

For each use there are multiple alternatives that you can try in order to discover which best suits your preferences and needs. Some may be already installed on your device (computer, tablet, cell phone, etc.) or you may find them on online stores ready to download, for free or at a cost, depending on the version.

EvernoteIt ranks as one of the best productivity apps according to several publications. It works as a note pad to jot down ideas, reminders, and to save links to interesting websites, among others. It automatically synchronizes with different devices over the Internet and can also be used to capture images, take voice notes and create to-do lists and reminders.

Basecamp Basecamp is a team project management service that offers tasks lists, collaborative editing of documents and the possibility of highlighting milestones, generating shared files, recording time and internal messaging. It stands out for its simple design and its well-placed and visible tabs. The free version allows you to create a single project for managing complex tasks with simple and well-designed tools.

Dropbox Dropbox offers cloud-based file management solutions to access and transfer files from any computer or mobile device. It provides up to 2GB of free storage and enables the recovery of content from previous files that have been modified or deleted, since the system saves the last 10 versions.

Hootsuite Hootsuite is a tool for tracking brands across social networks. It manages and programs posts, even for future publishing, from a single site across multiple social media profiles such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare, etc. It also monitors comments and conversations regarding your brand, allows you to track statistics, shortens links for publishing, and reports on the amount of clicks received.

Scanner Pro Turns your smartphone or tablet camera into a scanner to create documents that can be sent through email or that can be printed out, uploaded to a cloud storage service or simply saved to your device. It can be useful, for instance, to scan receipts for keeping track of travel expenses and to convert paper notes and sketches into digital copies.